Superintendent of Perry Township Schools
We’ve all heard that saying, “It’s the little things that count.”
It’s those little things that teachers do to help students understand their work. It’s those little things a parent does to help out in the classroom. These small gestures that are done without notice or gratitude are the little things that add up to have a major impact on the lives of our children.
In Perry Township we are fortunate to have hundreds of people volunteer their time, every day, to provide assistance to our students. When one reflects on the additional funds for schools that are raised each month, the individual donations really add up quickly and make a huge impact on the educational programs offered in our schools. In addition to the individual gifts, partnerships with local business and service organizations also make a significant impact
One example of a long-standing partnership with our schools is the Perry Township Education Foundation, or PTEF, as we typically refer to the organization. PTEF, which began serving the community in 1994, is overseen by Perry Meridian High School alumna Hannah Dale and a 15-member volunteer board. Many people do not know the foundation exists or what it accomplishes every year for our students.
“PTEF exists to enhance the quality of the Perry Township classroom experience,” Dale said. “The focus of the organization is to recognize and reward excellence in education, foster community support for public school education and to encourage innovative projects within and outside of the classroom. Our hope is that our funds can keep the love of learning alive in the classroom by providing innovative and creative lessons for students.”
Since many educators dip into their pockets to fund materials for their classrooms, PTEF’s goal is to ensure that our students and educators can have those experiences without paying for them personally.
Board members have diverse backgrounds and ties to our schools. Our executive committee consists of Chuck Stumpf, president; Brenda Rohl, immediate past president; Del Roehling, treasurer; Hallie Robbins, secretary; and Libby Roberts. We are pleased to welcome two additional members for 2016: Andy May and Krista Hoffman-Longtin.
More than $1.1 million in grants have been awarded to staff members since the inception of PTEF. For this school year, funding for 57 grants totaling $60,000-plus were secured.
Our collective goal is to have PTEF become a household name in the Perry Township community. We are working hard to develop strategies that will help us tell our story more effectively to parents, alumni, community members, business leaders, staff and students. We hope to share our message in such a way that it motivates members of the community to consider placing PTEF on their contribution list.
The foundation will host the basketball game between the Harlem Wizards and the Brave Birds (our schools’ staff members) on Saturday, April 16, at Southport Fieldhouse. The PTEF’s 23rd annual golf outing will take place June 9 at The Legends, and Coach Hathaway’s Running South will be held Sept. 24 at Perry Stadium. Participating in these events is not only fun but a great way to support the organization.